Favorite Movies of 2011

Here is a list of my favorite movies from 2011. Overall, it was a surprisingly good year for film.

Of Interest For Theological Reasons

Super 8 –> And a child shall lead them. Great baptism at the end, like something out of the book of Acts, where “3,000 were added to their numbers”.50/50 –> Tons of grace in practice in this movie, though pretty crass and not for the easily offended. “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Bill Cunningham New York –> “Money is cheap. Freedom is the most expensive thing.” A fantastic documentary about a man who knows the wisdom of foolishness and attributes it all to his devout Christian faith. A modern day ascetic, looking like the average NYC eccentric.Win Win–> “The great and merciful surprise is that we come to God not by doing it right but by doing it wrong!” (R. Rohr)Our Idiot Brother–> Based on Dostoevsky’s The Idiot. What if an encounter with Jesus is primarily deconstructive? Do people actively seek to avoid the things they most need?Troll Hunter –> “The blood of a Christian” & “What a friend we have in Jesus”!!!The Help –> Neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female… And also plenty in there having to do with the psychology of Pharisaism.

Other Good Movies

Submarine –> The new British Rushmore.Drive –> Oozing style from every pore. Quality film-making and very smart.Cave of Forgotten Dreams 3D –> How old are they?!Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark –> Fantastic horror for children. Remember the part of Cat’s Eye with Drew Barrymore? DBAOTD is what that movie should have been.Make Believe –> Who is the best teen magician in the world? There can only be one.Hugo 3D –> More nourishment for the adult child.Midnight in Paris –> The universalities that unite us trump the particularities that divide us. And a devastating critique of WASP affluence when the P is dropped.

Guilty Pleasures

Priest –> Finally a movie that describes ministry accurately.Battle: Los Angeles –> “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Made me cry at least twice.The Immortals –> Did you like 300?The Rite –> Anthony Hopkins, the exorcist.MI4: Ghost Protocol IMAX –> Go Brad Bird!

(Note: I have yet to see The Muppets, Damsels in Distress, The Artist, and The Descendants, but I’ve heard from trustworthy sources that they are good too.)
What were your favorites?

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Great list JZ I have seen all but The Help from your top 6 but we got that for Christmas so we are covered! So glad to see Win Win on your list, loved that movie and its my fave of the year. 50/50 was incredible for the grace in action aspect and Super 8 was The Goonies meets E.T. plus it had Kyle Chandler – can’t wait to see that one again.

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